What is an Intensifier?

S2-SA1-0438

Grade Level:

Class 1

NLP, Law, History, Social Sciences, Literature, Journalism, Communication

Definition

What is it?

An intensifier is a word that makes the meaning of another word stronger. It adds emphasis and makes adjectives or adverbs more powerful. Think of it like adding extra spice to your food!

Simple Example

Quick Example

Imagine your friend scored 95 marks in a test. If you say, 'That's a good score!', it sounds nice. But if you say, 'That's a *very* good score!', the word 'very' makes 'good' much stronger. 'Very' is the intensifier here.

Worked Example

Step-by-Step

Let's make a sentence stronger using an intensifier.

Step 1: Start with a simple sentence: 'The chai is hot.'
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Step 2: Identify the word we want to make stronger. Here, it's the adjective 'hot'.
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Step 3: Choose an intensifier that fits well with 'hot'. Words like 'very', 'extremely', 'really' are good choices.
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Step 4: Place the intensifier before the word 'hot'.
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Step 5: Form the new sentence. 'The chai is *very* hot.'
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Answer: The intensifier 'very' makes the chai sound much hotter!

Why It Matters

Understanding intensifiers helps you express yourself clearly and powerfully, whether you're writing a story or giving a speech. Journalists use them to make news reports impactful, and social media managers use them to make posts engaging. This skill is key for anyone in communication or literature!

Common Mistakes

MISTAKE: Using too many intensifiers in one sentence. Example: 'The movie was very, really, extremely good.' | CORRECTION: Use one strong intensifier for clarity. Example: 'The movie was incredibly good.'

MISTAKE: Using an intensifier with a word that already means 'very'. Example: 'The biryani was very delicious.' ('Delicious' already means 'very tasty'). | CORRECTION: Use the strong word by itself. Example: 'The biryani was delicious.'

MISTAKE: Placing the intensifier incorrectly in the sentence. Example: 'The very boy was smart.' | CORRECTION: Place the intensifier directly before the adjective or adverb it modifies. Example: 'The boy was very smart.'

Practice Questions

Try It Yourself

QUESTION: Identify the intensifier in the sentence: 'The traffic was extremely slow.' | ANSWER: extremely

QUESTION: Rewrite the sentence 'The phone is cheap.' to make 'cheap' stronger using an intensifier. | ANSWER: The phone is very cheap. (Other valid answers include 'really cheap', 'quite cheap', etc.)

QUESTION: Which of these sentences uses an intensifier correctly? A) The absolutely amazing view. B) The view absolutely amazing. C) The view was absolutely amazing. D) Absolutely the view was amazing. | ANSWER: C

MCQ

Quick Quiz

Which of the following words is an intensifier?

Table

Run

Very

Blue

The Correct Answer Is:

Very' is used to make other words stronger, like 'very tall' or 'very quickly'. The other words are a noun, a verb, and an adjective respectively, not intensifiers.

Real World Connection

In the Real World

When you see advertisements for products like 'India's *most* trusted brand' or 'Get *super* fast internet!', the words 'most' and 'super' are intensifiers. Companies use them to make their products sound much better and attract customers. Even news anchors use intensifiers to highlight important points in their broadcasts.

Key Vocabulary

Key Terms

EMPHASIS: special importance or attention given to something | ADJECTIVE: a word that describes a noun | ADVERB: a word that describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb | MODIFY: to change or limit the meaning of a word

What's Next

What to Learn Next

Now that you understand intensifiers, you can explore other types of adverbs, like adverbs of manner or adverbs of time. These will help you add even more detail and precision to your sentences, making your writing truly shine!